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Birthday boy today
Posted Dec 22, 2004
22.12.2004.
It's here again, birthday anniversary, or should that be adverstity. Everyone congratulates you and they mean it of course, saw the two Grandaughters in Tesco car park with youngest Son and his Wife and was treated to an impromptu 'Happy birthday to you', to my complete embarassment.
Sound grumpy?, disinterested, maybe, but I never made much of my Birthday, it's three days before Christmas and it always seemed to be a non-event even as a kid. Eldest Grandaughter has an even rougher deal, she was born on Boxing day, that's a bit like getting a £10.00 winning line on a scratch card the day after winning the jackpot.
It's tough on family as well of course, they have bigger things on their plate about this time of year.
I have to admit that my attitude has taken a bit of a turn lately and to my eternal shame it must have shown to my lovely family.
From Wife - two C.D.'s, Saxophone music, which I love. I have a beautiful vintage tenor which I try to play.
From eldest Daughter, 2 packs of top quality Kodak photo' printing paper. (she hasn't a clue about computers so there must have been some insider dealing there.
.)
From youngest Son, I thought "it feels like a picture frame, what the hell do I want with a picture frame" - WRONG - a big flat box with reproduction Newspapers, all headline News events, The Sinking of the Titanic, Assassination of J.F.K, The Ascent of Everest, etc, etc, the FULL paper as it was on those days.
From Grandaughters, each a BIG bag of my favourite goodies (Worthers and Rowntrees Pastilles), and a big hug.
I mention eldest and youngest, there was a middle one but every family has it's tragedy don't it.
Won't see the Grandson until Boxing Day and then only in short noisy bursts of sprinting devilment.
Feeling thoroughly ashamed of myself, I'm closing down for the Night.
Discuss this Journal entry [14]
Latest reply: Dec 22, 2004
But at least we're still here
Posted Nov 27, 2004
I spend most of my days nowadays in a wheelchair, I can walk short distances with the aid of two sticks on good ground or indoors, I drive a converted automatic Volvo Estate (I only mention the make because it's about the only one big enough to take my mobility scooter in the back, and it's reliable, so why not say so
).
Whenever I can I go shopping with my Wife INSIDE the store, depending on how busy it is, ('coz some people are real A55holes in shops). I went in on Friday using my ordinary chair and was just browsing in a wide aisle close to the side when I became aware of a man right up behind me.
Thinking that I was blocking him from the shelf, I moved on, only to be aware that he also had moved on and was still behind me, Ok, so he's browsing as well I thought and moved on again, same thing. I could see from a half turned position that he never picked anything up to check it or select it and we had moved past several different sections so I very obviously put on my brakes crossed my arms and sat there, Humph!! he said, walked past me and strode off.
I thought, what was THAT all about?, he didn't want anything there except to harrass me, bearing in mind that the gangway is about 8 foot wide.
It's not the first time, I've even crossed to the other side and been followed, why do people do that?. I'll probably get slated for this but it seems to be always Mr.& Mrs. 'smart casual', Guys in boiler suits and big boots usually ask if you need a hand.
Anyway, that's not the point of the entry.
I found a space not often visited or only briefly (breakfast cereals strangely enough) and sat gazing at the scene whilst my Wife flitted here and there for missed items.
I was in simultaneous eye contact with an old work colleage I hadn't seen for years, he came over and we began to chat. we are both members of a retirement association and receive a regular news bulletins. Inevitably the subject came round to 'Guess who's dead', (not all retired are members). Thrombosis, legs amputated, second Throm, too late!!, Strokes,1/2/final, Cardiac, you name it, MOST a lot younger than me, he was divorced, had an adult daughter at home who did NOTHING.
My Wife remarked afterwards that apart from the disability I looked 30 years younger than him. I think I saw a little bit of Sunshine through the mist round about then.
There is a bit of a bomb waiting to go off but that will be the subject of a future guide entry.
Soon be Turkey and time to give Thanks and Praise, then Spring
Discuss this Journal entry [14]
Latest reply: Nov 27, 2004
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Triquack
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